Small- and medium-sized engineering companies must create niche markets for themselves to supply Transnet with parts for the locomotives that the freight logistics company envisages building within the next two to three decades.

Grindrod's diesel-electric locomotive‚ which the company said was the cheapest in the world‚ could pit the logistics group as a competitor against state rail utility Transnet and global rolling stock manufacturers such as General Electric and Electro-Motive Diesel.

The apparel manufacturing‚ brand‚ and retail industries in Africa and the US have joined forces in an effort to lobby for the immediate renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa)‚ which is due to expire in 2015.

Improving safety‚ cutting fuel taxes and liberalising regulation to allow for greater connectivity between African countries are some of the key issues that must be tackled to boost aviation on the continent‚ International Air Transport Association's chief executive Tony Tyler said on Tuesday, (4 June)